As I do periodically, I'm rethinking the first aid supplies that I keep in my outdoor PSK (BCB-type tin). In the past I have tried and succeeded in limiting what I carry to strictly survival items--that is, no bandaids, chapstick, sunscreen, or other similar items which I see as convenience items only. I do understand why people carry these things and I usually have access to them in my pockets, but in the interests of space I've chosen to leave them out of this self-contained kit.

This is what I've carried in the past and why:

Aspirin (4): for heart attack/stroke
Ibuprophin (4): non-narcotic pain relief
Immodium (2): to prevent dehydration
Benadryl (2): for anaphylactic (sp?) shock
Pepcid AC (1): I had a bout of heartburn once that nearly crippled me. Never again.

My kit also includes the following which can pull double duty as first aid items: space blanket, chemical handwarmer, safety pins (ouch!), a razor blade, and a large sewing needle.

Aside from prescription meds, which I don't currently use, and keeping in mind my survival-only caveat, is there anything--especially medications--that I am missing?

Regards, Vince

I would agree with your selection of basic OTC meds.

Sure, you can improvise in a pinch, but a nasty cut on your finger or hand is easy enough to treat/dress with a dab of antibiotic ointment and a band-aid. 3 or 4 bandaids and the individual antibiotic foil packs weigh essentially nothing and I don't see a reason not to pack a few. Blister treatment is also critical since your feet may be your only transportation. Add a couple of 4X4 for larger wounds.

I have noticed a trend among kits that tends to minimize first aid and adds more "exotic" items such as snares, fishing kits etc. I don't know about you, but while outdoors, I have gotten cut and scratched much more often than lost. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

For anaphylactic shock you would be dead before benadryl has an effect which takes thirty minutes. If you are allergic to bee stings or anything else that puts you at risk for anaphylaxis, then epinephrine should be in your kit. I would also want something to attempt to stop an arterial bleed from doing me in, like a maxi pad or something else absorbant that can quickly be placed with pressure over a major wound.

Band aids are not convenience items in the wild. In fact, they are especially important there. Even little cuts are life threatening if they get infected, and covering it with a band aid can make all the difference.

If you have access to them in your pockets, that's fine; but if you're unsure, I'd make room for them. They really don't take up much room anyway, but I know how stuffed survival tins can get!

Also, you're going to want some antibiotic ointment to go with it. Bacitracin, Zinc, whatever; all serve to keep baddies out in addition to covering.

I'm not sure I'd put sunscreen and chapstick in the "convenience items" category either. Sunburn, in particular, can be life-threatening. Sunscreen won't prevent you getting sunburned, but it will reduce the risk. And having cracked and swollen lips after a couple of days might be more than an "inconvenience".

Did you forget to mention triangular bandages and sterile dressings? Pretty much every first aid kit I've ever seen has at least a couple of each.

I have also chosen to make a small FAK that is a little bit survival oriented. Mine is kept in a Spec.-Ops. Frontal Assault bag that I find easy to throw into which ever bag I happen to be carrying at the time.

A couple of things you might find useful in your kit are rubber gloves and a light to do your first aid by. Today you need to protect yourself and others while doing first aid. I am sure everyone will say they have a light in one of their other kits or in their EDC but a small LED key chain light in the FAK will always be there when you need it.

My method of carrying my medications will not agree with everyone but works well for me. I use a 2oz Nalgene bottle to put all my meds in so they will be waterproof. It is also much cheaper to buy bottles on OTC meds than blister packs. My water resistant label on the bottle tells what meds are in the bottle the dose per pill, the color, markings and numbers marked on each pill. I keep 4 meds in the bottle that meet most of my needs. 1: Ultracet (non narcotic pain killer) 2: Tylenol 3: Ibuprofen 4: Antihistamines.

My kit also includes a small roll of TP with feminine products stuffed into the center of the roll, a small Silva sighting compass, fire starting kit, small roll of duct tape, nail clippers, tweezers and cough drops. My scalpel blades I took out last time I flew and need to be returned to the kit.

The duct tape works for a good blister aid and preventive as well as a general fix it all. I wrapped 5-6 ft. around a piece of soda straw to make a very compact roll easy to carry in any kit.

This kit is more than just a general FAK it is stuff I use and want to have with me. It has helped me deal with life’s little bumps in the road as well as other things that come up on occasion.

Agreed; sunburns can just infected just as any other wound.

I didn't include that in my post because it really depends on where he lives. In a desert or maritime environment, the risk of sunburn is a lot greater than if he was in the middle of the woods. If you are in an environment like that where the risk is high, then absolutely carry some.

As far as triangular bandages and sterile dressings go, it really depends on how much space he has available, which is probably not very much. I fit a few 2 x 2 pads into mine, but there probably isn't room for a triangular bandage, as small as they are.

I include some first aid items in my survival kit, but it's by no means a first aid kit.

How true. Use the American Civil War as a prime example - more soldiers died from infection and disease than were killed on the battlefield. Keeping a wound clean and covered is paramount - no matter the size of the wound...

M

If you are planning to use Aspirin for Stroke/Cardiac emergencies you are better off with baby aspirin, chewable tablets each one at 81mg... total does for adult should be 162mgs. By chewing aspiring you absorb it much faster thru mucus membranes than by swallowing it therefore absorbing it thru stomach lining. Also if you are giving it away remember to ask about alergies and current medications such as Cumadin or Wafarin.

Just my 2 cents.

Medication wise you are pretty much set if this is just for your EDC. Otherwise bandaids, small alcohol wipes (or iodine wipes) and antibiotic oinment should also be there.

My FAK is little different than yours because I work as a medic and have access to meds that you wont have but when I run around and dont want to be bothered with checking in needles or explaining that unlabled pills are Ciprio than I carry what you have listed.

Sgt Mike is correct. In addition to the loss of life from infection in the Civil War, the two most disabling conditions were amputations, which were performed to prevent / treat infection, and a nerological condition called reflex sympathetic distrophy which is a sequilae of infection. I have had two clients with RSD, and both were totally and permanently diabled. One, by the way, from an imbedded foreign body throw by a lawn mower that went untreated.

Carry more than 2 immodium - that is the first dose only.

You should have enough for 24 hours to prevent severe dehydration - expect several loose motions in that time! You will be improvising with charcoal or tannin teas after that.

As a 19 year + Army medic, I can tell you what I have seen the most in the Norhern and Southern Hemispheres:

North: dehydration, hands down the winner. Followed by contact dermatitis (poison ivy and such); relatively few cases of hypothermia.

South: dehydration, hands down the winner. Followed by fungal infections, gastro-intestinal disorders due to local food consumption, and sexually transmitted diseases.

For what it's worth, in the deserts north and south: dehydration and hypothermia seem to go hand in hand. Also, don't pick up the rocks, don't play with the snakes....and dang sure shake out your boots before you put them on!

Good point about blisters. I always break in my footwear but you never know when Murphy will strike. I may throw in a couple of bandaids for that reason or look into moleskin. I know many people carry it but I have zero experience wlth it--in fact, I've never even seen any.

Regards, Vince

My thinking on sunblock/lipbalm is that I can always find shade where I am at, or if I am on the move, I can shield myself from the sun with my space blanket. I still carry those things--I am just leaving them out of this kit for the sake of space. Ditto on the trauma pad.

Regards, Vince

You are right about the Immodium. I only packed two because that's all it's ever taken to fix me up in town. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
There's a lot more at stake in the wilds. I'll probably cut back on the aspirin and replace them with at least two more Immodium.

Regards, Vince

I had not thought about chewable aspirin. That's a great tip.
Thanks!

Regards, Vince

I started a discussion about Benadryl awhile back and the general concensus seemed to be that oral was better than nothing. I am not allergic myself, but from what I have gathered you can develop an allergy later in life, even after hundreds of stings. I don't really want to mess with trying to get and then using an Epi-pen, especially since I have zero formal medical training. Here is the old discussion and I would be very interested in further comments:

http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showf...o=&vc=1

Regards, Vince

You are right Vince. It is better than nothing. A first allergic response to something may not be life threatening so the benadryl would help. Thanks for the added thread. Checking it out now.

I too keep Immodium or LoMotil in my emergency kit(s) but we probably should all be aware that it isn't a given that you should use it for diarrhea in wilderness emergency situations.

I recently was setting up a kit prior to an Alaska trip and was talking with some MD friends: Family Practice, Surgeon, and an Infectious Disease doc (all experienced outdoorspersons). They agreed (it was scary for 3 docs to agree) that if you slow/stop motility, you trap toxins in your system that need to get out. In the extreme, they are highly dangerous. So they think that if you have safe drinking water... keep drinking and "let'er rip". I don't know if I'll take this advice.. but here it is FWIW.

I know here in Aus there are basically three options - one drug bungs you up (good if you have a flight to catch), the other drug opens the gates, and the other option is clean water and bland food - up to 15 litres of water may be required in the first day if you have it bad.....Of course you may have it coming out both ends....
Now wash your hands.....